Chile: Thousands gather at Plaza Italia in Santiago to celebrate overwhelming support for new constitution October 25

Event

Thousands of Santiago residents have gathered at the city's Plaza Italia (Baquendano) as of 22:00 (local time) on Sunday, October 25, to celebrate overwhelming support for drafting a new constitution following a national plebiscite. Early counts predict that at least three-quarters of all residents who participated voted in favor of redrafting the Pinochet-era constitution. Unofficial tallies by exit polls suggest the vast majority of voters had also picked a specially-elected body of citizens to draft the new charter over a mixed contingent of lawmakers and citizens. The gathering at the plaza has largely been celebratory in nature, with no early reports of violence or arrests. 

More than 40,000 security personnel have been deployed in anticipation of celebratory gatherings across the country over the coming days following the plebiscite. 

Further associated celebratory gatherings are possible in Chile in the near term. A heightened security presence and localized disruptions are possible in the vicinity of all large gatherings.

Context

The Chilean national plebiscite was scheduled to determine whether a new constitution will be drafted to replace the Pinochet-era constitution in the wake of anti-government protests in 2019. Moreover, it will be decided whether it will be determined by a directly elected constitutional convention or a mixed convention of members of parliament and elected citizens. This new constitution would then be put to another referendum in 2022.

Advice

Those in Chile, particularly Santiago, are advised to monitor developments, avoid all demonstrations as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.